Genetic diversity of carbofuran-degrading soil bacteria

The genetic diversity of 128 carbofuran-degrading bacteria was determined b y ARDRA (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis) of 16S rDNA and rest riction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S-23S rDNA spacer re gion (IGS) using five endonucleases. The isolates were distributed in 26 di stinct ARDRA groups and 45 IGS types revealing a high level of microbial di versity confirmed by ARDRA clustering and sequencing of 16S rDNA. The occur rence of a methylcarbamate-degrading gene (mcd) was monitored by polymerase chain reaction amplification using specific primers. The mcd gene was dete cted only in 58 bacteria and there was no clear relationship between the pr esence of this gene and the phylogenetic position of the strain. (C) 2000 F ederation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Scie nce B.V. Air rights reserved.